Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Atlanta Braves 2-1 Monday night in a pitching duel in which both starters had no-hitters through six innings.
Seattle’s Jorge Polanco grounded a single to left field leading off against Atlanta’s A.J. Minter (5-2). Garver then hammered a 3-2 cutter an estimated 412 feet off the facade of the second deck.
Mariners reliever Austin Voth (1-0) allowed a leadoff single then struck out the next three batters in the top of the ninth inning to earn the victory.
Neither Atlanta’s Max Fried nor Seattle’s Bryce Miller allowed a hit until the Braves’ Ronald Acuna Jr. led off the seventh with an infield single, stole second and third and scored on Ozzie Albies’ double to right field.
Fried pitched six hitless innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts, before giving way to Pierce Johnson, who struck out the side in the seventh.
Braves reliever Joe Jimenez lost the no-hitter in the eighth but got out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the shutout.
Jimenez walked Ty France on four pitches leading off the inning. Pinch-hitter Josh Rojas grounded a single into right for the Mariners’ first hit. Luis Urias failed to get a bunt down before striking out. Pinch-hitter Luke Raley reached on an infield single, with second baseman Albies making a diving stop to knock down the ball and prevent a run. That loaded the bases for Julio Rodriguez, who flied out to shallow left for the second out. Jimenez struck out Mitch Haniger to get out of the inning.
Miller nearly matched Fried, retiring the first 16 batters he faced before walking Travis d’Arnaud on four pitches with one out in the sixth. Miller got Jarred Kelenic to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Miller went seven innings and allowed one run on two hits. He walked one and fanned 10.
–Field Level Media
